Capt. Don Goulet of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said Friday the victim, 13, was treated at the hospital for facial injuries and released.

“According to the police report, he was bloodied,” Goulet said.

The captain said the incident occurred on a SAD 61 bus as students were being brought home. The younger male reported the assault to his mother when he returned home Thursday, and she called police.

“The kids were dropped off at home, and it was the parent of the victim that called us, so we’re playing catch-up,” said Goulet.

Deborah Howard, assistant superintendent for the school district, said the school system is taking the allegations “very seriously.”

“An investigation is taking place right now, as we would do with anything that has been reported,” Howard said on Friday.

Goulet said police are working with the school to determine the motivation for the alleged attack and whether there was history between the two boys, the older of whom is believed to be a student at Lake Region High School, while the younger one, police believe, is a student at the nearby middle school.

“Obviously, if there are additional factors, such as bullying or anything else, it could result in additional charges,” Goulet said. “That’s one of the pieces we’re still trying to find out.”

Goulet said if police determine that bullying had been taking place, it would not be a charge of its own, but rather could aggravate the original assault charge or be used as a factor at sentencing if the older boy is found guilty.